Automatic mechanical cotton tramper



sa, J7

- B. B. STRICKLAND.

AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL COTTON TRAMPER.A

`APPLICATION r|LEDJuNE11.'|921.

124:3 3,53%, mama 001;. 31, 1922..

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

R. B. STRICKLAND.

AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL COTTON TRAMPER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE H, 1921.

Patented Oct. 31, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. B. STR|CKLAND.

AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL COTTON TRAMPER.

APPLICATION FILED .lUNI-IH. |921. I l 11,433,572., ,mama oet. 31,1922;

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. B. STRICKLAND.

AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL COTTON TRAIVIPER. APPLICATION FILED IuNIII, I92I.

mssm,

Patented Oct. 3l, 1922..

4 SHEETS-SHEEY 4.

3/ g@ Mg 40 o 2.537 4 4/ 26 7 IH/Canto@ RICHARD B. STRICKLAND, OF WAGO,TEXAS.

AUTOMIATIC MiECHANC-.L COTTON TRAMER.

Application led June 11, 1921. j SeralNc. 476,789.

T 0 allee/1.0m t may concern.'

Be it known that I, RICHARD B. Sanloiif LAND, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at .Vaco, in the county of McLennan and State of Texas,have invented a new and useful Automatic Mechanical Cotton Tramper, ofwhich the following `is a specification. i

This invention relates to cotton tramping machines, and moreparticularly to a machine to be used in connection with cotton pressesor the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an automaticmechanically operated cotton tramper wherein the length of the stroke ofthe tramper may be varied to eiliciently accomplish the cramping result,and the power applied to the tremper by means of eccentrics and a systemof levers.

A further object of the invention is to rprovide means for controllingthe adjustment of the tramper stroke, the means being operated eitherwhile the machine is idle or while the machine is in motion.

A stil-l further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement oflevers and operating arms to insure the power being applied evenly anduniformly during the operation of the tramper, into and out of the pressbox.

lilith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides inthe combination .andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being` understood,

`the machine; and

Fig. flis a sectional view tal-Ienv on `line 4.--4 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings inadetail, the device comprises a base 5towhich are secured the uprights 6 that are connected at their upper endsby means of the horizontal bars 7, there being a supporting barSconnecting' lthe bar 7 intermediate the ends thereof.

The uprights 6 are connected` intermediate their ends by means of thehorizontal bars 9, the bars 6 yand 7 being arranged to provide a housingor support for the tramper and its operating rods, to be hereinaftermore fully described. A pair of uprights 10 are supported adjacent toone end of the base 5 and have connection with the horizontal bars 11 atthe upper ends thereof, the bars 11 being of lengths to extend throughthe housing where the same have connection with the uprights 6, in anysuitable manner.

Connecting the bars 9 at points intermediate their ends is a supportingbar 12 y which is provided with openings to accommodate the spacedguides 13 which are tubular in formation and have their upper endsdisposed in the bar 8, which is mounted at the upper end of the housing.

A press box indicated at 14: is formed in the base 5 at a pointdirectly` under thev bar 12` and in which operates the tramper 15 whichis formed of a plurality of spaced bars 1G secured to the lower surfaceof the head 17. j j

Aiblocl indicated at 1S extends upwardly from the tramper head andprovides a support for the lower sections 19 of `the toggle .structurelor rods employed in operating the tremper. j

The upper sections of the toggle are indicated at 2O and have pivotalconnection with the sections 19 as through the bolts 21, which boltsalso provide means for connecting the forked ends 22 of the connect-Vguides 26 secured to the bars of the housiugfthe adjusting rods orbeams being of j lengths so that the ends thereof will prol ject beyondthe upper barsi1 where the rod or `beam 24: has connection with theoperating lever 27 which is pivotally supported by the housing asthrough the arm 28 and collar 29 which embraces a portion of theoperating lever 27. j j n The upper sections of the toggle haveconnection with these adjusting rods or beams 24C and 25 respectively,so that movement of the rods or beams results in a relative movement ofthe upper sections of the toggle to shorten or lengthen the' stroke ofthe toggle, with the result that the strolre ot the tramper iscorrespondinglyr adjusted. Connecting the adjusting` rods or beamsis abar 30 which is pivotally connected to the bar S by the bolt 3l, one endor' the bar' being forlred to accommodate the pin 32 carried. by theadjusting rod oi' beam 25', there being provided a slot 33 formedadjacent to thev opposite end of the bar4 30 to accommodate the pin 34'ot the bar 80. Thus it will be seen that movement of the adjusting rodor beam 24 in one direction results in a niovement'ot the rod or beam 25in the opposite direction. Coiled springs 35 upper sections of thetoggles, and halveconnection with the bars 7 ot the housing to restrictmovement of the adjusting rods or beams 24 and 25. ,Y

`Operating inv the guides i3 are thei'ods 86 which have their Vlowerends connected to the trampei` and operate through the guides 13 toinsure a true operation of the tramper into the presser box. Supportedabove the housing is a bracket 3T in which is mounted the pulley overwhich operates the liexibl'e member 39, the flexible membei' alsooperating oveiI the pulley 40 supported inV the bracket 41, there vbeingprovided a weight 42 as secured `to the tree endv oli' the Hexiblemember 39. The opposite end of the flexible member 39 has connection'with the tramper to counterbalancethe weight thereotl and eliminatesudden strains being directed thereto, when the machine is running free.

rlllie connecting rods 23- have connection with the lcrank arins42forming a part of the shaft 43 which. is mounted in the bearing 44, theshalft 43 carrying a relatively large 'pinion 45 which is' in mesh withthe have connection with the upper ends ofthe 1 upwardly permittingquantity of cotton to pass into the presser box. A weight 56 issupported Aby the guard 53 so that as the tramper moves downwardly intothe presser box, the guard 53 will also be moved to the limit of itsdownward movement to retard the movement o-l`- thel cotton over thedelivering board 5l.

From the foregoing it will be seen that as the press box is lilled, theoperator may, by moving Athe operating lever 27 shorten the stroke ofthe presser or tramper, to relieve the ytrainper or' undue strain duringthe trainping operation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isr- 1. In adevicel or' the character described,` a trame, a presser box within thetraine, a presser operating within thev presser box, a toggle havingconnection with the trampei', means havingconnect'ion with the togglefor controlling the same to reciprocate the tramper, and means havingconnection with the upper end olithe toggle for inovingthe upper end or'the toggle to adjust the stroke pinion 461 mounted on the shaft47 andon,

which shaft `the power pulley 48 issecured, whereby rotary /movement`may be imparted to the pinions and 46 to accomplish the operation ofthe machine. f Y

` A hopper 49 forms' a part of the device and this hopper is designed toreceive material from al gin or the like, the material y being passed.from the hopper between the iollers50, where the saine falls onto thedelivering board 5l which is inclined downkwardlv to cause the materialto gravitate towards the lower end thereof, where the same falls intothe presser box.

Vertical guides52 are disposed adjacent to the ends ofthedeliveringboard 151, and

provide supports for the vertically movable guard 53 which has eyes 54embracing por tions of the rod 52, to permit the same to move'reelyjthereover. Extending laterally f from theguard 531v is an arm 55whiclinor- .mally lies in the path of travel of the trampe'r, so thatwhen the tramper moves npwardlytliei guard 53 wi'llalsobe moved of thetramper. e

2,.` In a device oi the character described, a frame, a presserfboxwithin thel traine, tubular guides within the trame, a' trampersupported by the frame, guide rods operating through' the tubularguidesand having connection .with the tramper for guiding the trainperin its movement, toggles having connection with the tramper forreciprocating the tramper, and means for adjusting the stroke of thetramper. i

In a device of the character described, a iram'e, a presser box withinthe frame, a tremper operating within the presser box, a togglehavingeonnection. with the trainper, horizontally disposed adjustingrodsj snpported at the upper end yof tlie traine and having connectionwith the'y upper end ,ot the toggle, means for` moving the adjustingrods to vary the strolre of the' tramper, and

for delivering material to the presser, box. i i

4. In a device of the character described, a frame, apressei' box,within the traine, a traniper operating in the presser box, means forr'eciprocating the trainper, means Jfor delivering material tok thepresser box,` and means for adjusting the stroke of lthe trainpei' whilethe same is in motion.

5. In a device of the character described, a frame, a presser box withinthe'icrame, a vertically movable traniper operating in the frame,ac'ljusti'iig rods disposed' attlie upper end of the frame, a togglehaving connection witlithe adjusting rods and tremper, a pivoted barconnectingithe rods, ,an operating klever having connection lwith onerodV wheremovement ot the other rod to adjust tl'i'ev stiolte or" thepresser, ineaiis for returning ist' the adjusting' rods to their normalpositions, and means :tor delivering material to 'the presser box.

6. In a device ot the character described, a frame, a presser box withinthe frame, a tramper operating Within the frame, means for impartingmovement to the tramper, adjusting rods, means connecting the adjustingrods and tramper for adjustingthe stroke oi the tramper, means formoving the adjusting rods in one direction, and automatic means vforreturning the adjusting rods to their normal positions T. In a device ofthe character described, a trame, a presser box Within the traine, atremper operatingr in the frame, adjusting rods supported. at the upperend ot the frame, means connecting the adjusting rods and tramperwhereby movement of the adjnstingrods will vary the stroke of thepresser, means for delivering material to the presser box, means foradjusting the adjusting roc, and spring means for returning theadjusting rods to their normal positions.

8. In a. device of the character described, a frame, a presser boxwithin the frame, a vertically reciprocatingtramper supported Within.vthe trame, means for reciprocating the tramper, means for adjustingthestroke of the tramper, tramper controlled means for delivering materialto the presser box, and means for counter-balancing the weight of thetramper when the device .is running idle.

9. In a device of the character described, a frame, a presser box Withinthe frame, a tremper operating in the presser box, means forreciprocating the tramper, guide rods disposed laterally of the presserbox, a reciprocating guard operating` over the guide rods, an armcarried by the guard land lying Within the path of travel ot' thetramper, said tramper adapted to contact with the arm :tor moving theguard vertically to control the passage of material to the presser box,and means for delivering material to the guard.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aixedmy signature in the presence of tivo Witnesses.

RICHARD B. STRICKLAND.

Vitnesses:

N. AOLIVE, H. C. LINDSEY.

